Cleaning cases

[jcwit]

I have tumbled cases for years and years both with a rotary tumbler and a vibratory tumbler. I've read how the SS pin method cleans the cases inside in addition to the outside.

Here's my question. I've never used crushed walnut only corn cob. Wondering is the corncob will clean the inside and primer pockets somewhat like the SS pin method?

At my age and with the set-up I have and the quanity of corn cob I have I frankly see no use for the higher prices SS but could stand the low cost of a bag of lizard litter.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Hondo 60]

Corn or walnut will not clean the cases like ss.

SS is a wet solution that makes the brass look like brand new.
Personally, I'll live with just plain old corn cob & polish.

 

[rcmodel]

No cormcob truly cleans cases.
It polishes cases.
If there is tarnish on the case, it will be polished tarnish when you get done.

Walnut does clean cases but doesn't polish as much as corncob.
If there is tarnish on the cases, it will remove it.

Neither type of media does much inside the case once it is packed full of media.
The packed media can't do much vibrating inside the case.

Zilla brand walnut Lizard Litter does better on primer pockets then any real reloading company walnut media I have ever used.

I have never used S/S or ceramic media, so I don't know anything about it.

rc

 

[bigedp51]

Stainless steel media cleans everything and removes the carbon from inside the case and the primer pockets.

Below, these are not new cases, they are cases cleaned with stainless steel media and a rock tumbler.



NOTE: There are no free rides or magic case cleaners, this method cleans extremely well "BUT" plan ahead as it takes more time for the cases to be cleaned and dried and it is not cheap. The media is $49.95 and the tumbler is $179.95 "PLUS" shipping.

I'm retired and have nothing to do and all day to do it......
This method isn't for everyone but I like to inspect my cases carefully both visually and with a RCBS Case Mastering Gage for case head separations and defects.

 

[jcwit]

At my age and with the set-up I have and the quanity of corn cob I have I frankly see no use for the higher prices SS but could stand the low cost of a bag of lizard litter.

This implys that I'm not interested in switching to SS media.

At my age and health, don't see it happening!

Already have the tumbler, 2 to be exact, one has never been out of the box.

 

[bigedp51]

Then try some home made liquid case cleaners.

http://www.frfrogspad.com/homemade.htm

Or get a bigger tumbler dude. Have you tried sand, lime and mortar mix to get your primer pockets clean.

 

[Walkalong]

Nope.

 

[jcwit]

Or get a bigger tumbler dude. Have you tried sand, lime and mortar mix to get your primer pockets clean.

I'll let that up to you!

Let us all know how it works out.

 

[LBEE]

I have place where the SS is $1 a pound

 

[jcwit]

Send me a PM with address/phone # or something. Thanks.

 

[357Shooter]

Are you letting anyone know who the is ???

 

[kingmt]

I bet it isn't stainless steel then because I can seal the cheap crap that a magnet will stick to for $1.60 # as scrap.

 

[Strongbad]

Another quick way to get the inside and pockets clean would be an ultrasonic cleaner. I picked one up with a coupon a few months ago at the local Harbor Freight. It'll clean about 30 300 Win Mag cases in 8 minutes and they're completely free of any carbon, residue etc. then I just let them dry out. Voila. I also polish them, but obviously polishing just remove lube and makes them look pretty on the outside.

 

[gamestalker]

I started out with Walnut media years ago, and even though it was the only media I had ever used up until recently, it has always produced excellent results, inside and out. The other media I tried was corn cob, that was about a year ago because my regular source was out of walnut, and I'll never buy it again, or ever use up the giant bag I bought. It just doesn't get the job done, even after 24 hours my brass still comes out looking fair at best. It's not that I like pretty brass as to why I like it polished, it just makes it easier for me to spot the first stages of case separation that would other wise slip by me.

 

[jcwit]

I bet it isn't stainless steel then because I can seal the cheap crap that a magnet will stick to for $1.60 # as scrap.

Some types of Stainless Steel pins a magnet will attract.

Another quick way to get the inside and pockets clean would be an ultrasonic cleaner. I picked one up with a coupon a few months ago at the local Harbor Freight. It'll clean about 30 300 Win Mag cases in 8 minutes and they're completely free of any carbon, residue etc. then I just let them dry out. Voila. I also polish them, but obviously polishing just remove lube and makes them look pretty on the outside.

If you use a corn cob polish with a liquid auto polish like Nu-Finish as a final polish it departs a coating on the cases that retards tarnish, in addition to removing the lube.

 

[LBEE]

OK Guys, I bought Mine from 800-336-6017 ask for Kathy Reitz, Price is $5 pound with 5 pounds being plenty for a Thumblers Tumbler. I later Found some for $1 a pound at 716-693-1750 ask for Kevin. The order I received I had to clean it in the Tumbler before using with Simple Green, which is Great stuff.

 

[jcwit]

Thanks Guy.

 

[LBEE]

Your Welcome, also, you might want to get a Mechanic Magnet to pick all that you lose, comes in real handy.

 

[OldmanFCSA]

Then try some home made liquid case cleaners.

http://www.frfrogspad.com/homemade.htm

Or get a bigger tumbler dude. Have you tried sand, lime and mortar mix to get your primer pockets clean.

I've worn out 2 of these using walnut/corcob.

Anybody need 1 for parts? Free to a good home. FTF only.

 

[essayons21]

I use ultrasonic and a vibratory tumbler. I too am cheap.

Ultrasonic was $30 on e-bay. You can get similar models cheap from Harbor Freight. I use a 50/50 mix of Vinegar and water and a few squirts of Dial dish soap. A recipe I found on the ultrasonic write up on 6mmbenchrest.com

In my Midwayusa vibratory tumbler I use a mix of corn cob and walnut bird litter. The bird stuff I got because it was finer than the lizard litter and doesn't clog up the flash holes as much. I also treat it with Dillon polishing compound, or flitz, both work.

All my brass is run through the tumbler for an hour or so before I even sort it. After tumbling it is sorted and resized. Tumbling with the spent primer in place keeps media out of the flash hole. Also all of the media is shaken out of the rounds during the sorting process.

Handgun and bulk rifle brass just gets reloaded as normal, then tumbled for 15 minutes after it is loaded to remove fingerprints, resizing lube, etc.

Precision rounds are put in the ultrasonic after resizing. Time varies greatly depending on caliber and how dirty they are. I don't do a cycle with distilled water because after I finish loading I tumble them again, which gets rid of the mineral deposits left from tap water.

This combination has a minimum of hassles, and gives great results for the minimum financial input.

 

[RustyFN]

JC walnut won't clean the pockets but it will clean the cases faster. I use 50/50 walnut and corn cob with Nu Finish.

 

[jcwit]

I think I've gotten the answer I was after.

Thanks all!

 

[1SOW]

IF I reloaded rifle, I would look into SS. With pistols it's not generally needed.